India finished sixth at the Hockey World League Semifinals after being beaten 3-2 by Canada at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London on Sunday.
It was India's second loss against a lower-ranked side in the tournament after having lost to Malaysia in the quarterfinals.
Gordon Johnston (3rd, 44th minutes) scored two while Keegan Pereira (40th) got the all-important equaliser for Canada. Harmanpreet Singh (7th, 22nd) got on the scoresheet for India converting two of India's eight penalty corners.
By virtue of this win, Canada finished fifth in the tournament and also qualified for next year's World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar.
The loss didn't deter India's qualification to the Hockey World League Final, to be held later this year, and the 2018 World Cup as they were already assured of a place in both events being hosts.
Canada started the brighter of the two teams with a couple of penalty corners within the first three minutes. They missed the first, but Johnston made no mistake in the second, putting in the perfect pace and height to beat goalkeeper Vikas Dahiya.
India were rattled but drew level within minutes. Harmanpreet converted India's first penalty corner to make it 1-1. After relentless pressure, and five penalty corners, Harmanpreet doubled India's lead with India's sixth set-piece opportunity. The first half ended with India leading 2-1.
Just moments after India went close to doubling their lead, Canada hit back on the counter to equalise. The Canadaians broke from the right and the move was finished by Pereira on the far post. India were left to rue their missed chances as Canada took the lead once again when Johnston fired in from a penalty corner just four minutes after the equaliser.
India kept piling the pressure in the last quarter, coming close on many occasions, but Canada held on to book a place in next year's World Cup.